Pope Leo Offers Vatican Host Peace Talks To President Zelenskyy

Pope Leo XIV/DOK PHOTO via Instagram @pontifex

JAKARTA - Pope Leo offered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the Vatican's readiness to host the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.

The Pope, who met with Ukrainian leaders for the second time, also discussed the urgent need for a just and lasting peace.

Reported by Reuters on Wednesday, July 9, Zelenskyy and Pope Leo held talks at Castel Gandolfo, a small hilly town in Italy not far from Rome, where the Pope was on vacation for two weeks.

Ukrainian leaders are in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term post-invasion reconstruction of Russia.

The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskyy took place.

The Vatican released a video showing Leo, the first US Pope, asking Zelenskyy, "How are you?" in English as the two sat together in a big room.

Pope Leo, who made the call for peace in world conflict his young papal theme, previously met Zelenskyy at the Vatican on May 18.

The Pope also made a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4.

The Vatican said Pope Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump in May indicated Pope Leo had offered to host the Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations, but the Pope had previously not spoken about a possible summit.

Russian officials previously told Reuters they did not see the Vatican as a serious place for negotiations because the Holy Throne is surrounded by Italy, NATO members, who have supported Ukraine and taken part in EU sanctions against Russia.